Skirt blocking device



Aug. 22, 1939. 4 c, (:LEQPHAS 2,170,126

SKIRT BLOCKING DEVICE Filed Sept. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l 4&4 QMM, Pygmy wEYS dyer/0M2 Cheap/7 :3 I

Ani'g. 22, 1939. c. M. CLEOPHAS 2,170,126

SKIRT BLOCKING DEVICE I Filed Sept. 28, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NVENTOIQ,

TTOIQBgX'S O/am 07X flea Mai I Patented Aug. 22, 1939 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

The invention relates generally to skirt block- 7 ing devices and more particularly to devices of this character which'are especially adapted for maintaining a skirt in its proper shape and form while it is being dried or re-shaped.

A general object of the invention is to provide an improved and simplified frame device adapted to be inserted in a skirt to block or stretch the same, the device being of such character that it may easily be manipulated by an unskilled user to effectively and accurately block any size of skirt desired to a predetermined set of dimensions.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described which is adapted to be collapsed into a small compact bundle that may be readily transported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the type described adapted to stretch the hip portions a selected amount with respect to the adjacent portions of the skirt.

The invention also resides in certain structural improvements in the device.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of the specification.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational View of the device with a skirt in place thereon.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective detailed view of the detachable connection between certain par-ts of the framework of the device.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed perspective view of a length adjustment mechanism for one of the frame members of the device.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the device in its collapsed or bundled position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of one of the side members of the frame illustrating particularly the length adjustment mechanism therefor as well as the associated mechanism for contouring the hip portion of the skirt.

mechanism for contouring the hip portion of the skirt.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view along the line 8-8 in Fig. 6; and Fig; 9 is a fragmentary elevational view of one Fig. '7 illustrates the method of adjusting the (Cl. 223-69) of the elements of the mechanism shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

For purposes of illustration, the invention has been shown in the drawings as embodied in a I device particularly adapted for blocking or stretching skirts made from loosely knitted fabrics although it may also be utilized to block skirts of other types. In general, the device includes a flat frame adapted to be adjusted to a selected size and inserted in a skirt, the frame being of quadrilateral and preferably trapezoidal form to conform to the conventional flat shape of a skirt. As best shown in Fig. 1, the frame preferably includes a pair of extensible spaced end members or bars designated generally by the numerals ID and H which are joined by a pair of extensible side members or bars designated generally by the numerals I 2 and I3. The extensible character of the bars forming the frame makes it possible to form a suitably shaped and dimensioned framework for any skirt irrespective of its length or ratio of waist band diameter to bottom diameter.

The extensible upper end bar II] is formed by two strips I4 and I5 of wood or relatively soft material disposed face-to-face in telescoping relation. The length of the end member It may thus be adjusted by sliding the strips I4 and I5 bolt I9 while the opposite edge is releasably secured thereto by a screw which passes through a hole formed in a laterally projecting ear 2| on the plate I8 and is threaded in a' registering tapped hole formed in a corresponding fiat portion 22 on the channel-shaped member IT. The lower end member II is similar in construction to the upper end member ID and includes a pair of flat wooden strips 23 and 24 which are adjustably clamped together in telescoping face-toface relation by a clamping device 25. The clamp 25 is identical in construction with the clamping device I6 described above. The end bars or members II) and II are preferably made of wood or relatively soft material in order that the adjacent upper and lower edges of a skirt such as the skirt 26 (Fig. 2) may be secured thereto by thumb tacks 21. It will thus be seen that the end bars are disposed within the skirt, and in view of their generally flat configuration serve to hold the ends of the skirt in a proper straight line condition to shape the same.

An arrangement has been provided for visually indicating the eifective length of the end members It and II in order that they may be set to the proper length for stretching a skirt as desired. In the construction illustrated, this arrangement includes a scale 28 marked on the strip M which cooperates with the adjacent end of the strip i as a reference point. The scale 28 is so marked as to indicate the diameter of the waist band corresponding to the adjusted length of the upper end member [5. As a consequence, the user can measure her waist with a tape measure or the like and then set the scale 28 to the same value so that the waist band of the skirt will be stretched to exactly the proper size. A similar scale 29 is marked on the strip 2 3 of the lower end member H and cooperates with the adjacent end of the strip 23 as a reference point.

The extensible side bars l2 and I3 may be adjusted axially to accommodate a skirt of any desired length. In the particular construction illustrated, the side member 52 for example includes a tubular upper member 30 in which a lower member 31 is slidably mounted. The lower member 3! is slid in or out of the member 35 to adjust the length of the side bar and is retained in its adjusted position by clamping mechanism 32. This clamping mechanism preferably in cludes a resilient L-shaped latch 33 secured at its butt end to the member 35 by a bracket 35 and adapted to engage a series of notches 35 formed in the adjacent side of the tubular member 3|. The notches 35 are spaced apart predetermined increments of distance and suitable scale markings 36 (Fig. 6) are provided on the surface of the member 3! to indicate the correspending length of the frame for the several adjustment positions of the side members. The side member or bar [3 is identical in construction with the side bar 52 and includes telescoping tubular members 37 and 38 which are releasably clamped in their adjusted positions by a clamping mechanism 39.

The framework described above is reinforced by a. strut designated generally by the numeral This strut includes telescoping members 4! and 42 which are respectively pivotally connected to adjacent border members of the framework. Thus the upper end of the member i! is pivotally connected to one end of the top bar it? while the lower end of the member 52 is pivotally connected to the lower portion of part 3? of the side bar I3. The member 42 is moved axially in and out of the hollow tubuiar member ii to adjust the length of the strut 55 in accordance with the angular relation of the associated border members of the frame and then clamped in position by a set screw 43.

The various border members of the framework described above are preferably secured together in such manner that the framework can be readily collapsed into a compact portable bundle. As a result, the collapsed framework may be readily packed in a suitcase or the like for use while traveling. In general, three of the frame bars are pivoted together in end-to-end relation while the fourth member is detachably secured thereto. The detachable member is removed and all of the members are telescoped to their smallest lengths. Then the three pivotally connected members are folded upon each other to a position substantially in alinement thereby forming a small compact bundle. In the particular construction illustrated, the side bars l2 and I 3 are pivotally connected to the opposite ends of the top bar III by suitable metal brackets 44 and 45 attached to the outer ends of the strips I4 and 15. The lower end member II is detachably secured to the side bars l2 and I3 by a suitable latch arrangement best shown in Fig. 3. Thus a hook 46 on the lower end of the side bar 12 is adapted to be inserted in a slot 4'! formed in the adjacent end of the wooden strip 23 and to fit over a pin 48 which extends through the slot. The hook 46 is releasably maintained in engagement with the pin 48 by a latch 49 pivotally mounted by a pin. 55 in a slot 5| which intersects the slot 4]. The hook 45 may be readily moved into or out of engagement with the pin 48 when the latch is in its retracted position shown in Fig. 3, but disengagement will be prevented when the latch is swung to the position shown in Fig. 6. A similar latch arrangement is provided at the opposite end of the lower end bar II for detachably connecting the same to the side bar l3.

An additional mechanism is preferably provided for altering the contour of the framework to stretch the hip line portion of the skirt to a greater diameter than the waist band. For this purpose, elongated flexible members designated generally by the numerals 53 and 54 are provided on the outer sides of the side bars l2 and I3 respectively. Upon reference to Figs. 6 and 7, it will be seen that the member 53 includes a pair of resilient metal strips 55 and 56 arranged in overlapping relation and secured at their opposite ends to the tubular frame member 30 by U-shaped brackets 51 and 58 respectively. The side arms of the brackets embrace the member 30 (Fig. 8) resiliently engaging the same, the brackets being detachably secured in position. Thus an inclined pin 59 passes through a registering slot in the upper bracket 58 and the tension in the members 55 and 56 maintains the adjacent portion of the bracket pressed against the pin. Similarly, the head of a screw 50 passes through an L-shaped slot 5! in the side of the lower bracket 57 maintaining the same against downward movement. The lower end of the spring strip 56 is maintained against lateral movement away from the adjacent portion of the spring strip 55 by a ring 62. It will be seen that the spring strips 55 and 55 may thus be bowed outwardly by sliding the same longitudinally with respect to each other in order to give the frame a bulging contour of the desired amount adjacent the upper ends of the sides thereof. A pin 63 engages a series of spaced holes 64 to maintainv the spring strips in the selected bowed position. The pin 63 is carried by a resilient strip of metal 65 which is in turn mounted on a retaining case 65 rigidly secured to the outer spring strip 55. Upon reference to Fig. 7, it will be seen that the spring strips 55 and 56 may, for example, be bowed outwardly from the position shown in full lines to the position shown in. dotted lines to stretch the hip portion of a skirt to a relatively greater diameter without altering the waist band setting of the frame.

In order to firmly hold those portions of the skirt waist band which are not engaged by the upper set of tacks 27 and thereby prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the frame under the applied stretching force, recesses or notches 69 are formed in the outer edges of the metal brackets 44.

In using the skirt blocking device illustrated, it is assembled in the form shown in Fig. 1 and the various portions thereof are adjusted to the desired dimensions of the skirt. The garment is then slipped over the frame and the opposite ends tacked in position on the frame bars l and II. The frame may then be conveniently supported by snap fasteners 61 So that the skirt may dry readily if it has been dampened during cleaning or the like. When the framework is not in use, the lower end bar II is detached and telescoped to its shortest length. The set screw 43 of the strut 40 is then released so that the strut members 4| and 42 can be separated. The frame bars l0, l2.and I3 are telescoped to their shortest dimensions and the hip stretching mechanisms 53 and 54 flattened against the adjacent side bars. After the frame members have thus been reduced to their shortest respective lengths, the side bars l2 and I3 are folded substantially into alinement with the top bar III as are the strut members 4| and 42. The entire device thus forms a compact bundle in. its collapsed form as shown in Fig. 5. The various parts of the framework may be conveniently secured together by a suitable strap 68 as illustrated.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in some detail for purposes of illustration, there is no intention to thereby limit the invention to this I particular embodiment, but on the other hand the appended claims are intended to cover all modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The present application is a continuation in part of my co -pending application Serial No. 19,358, filed May 2, 1935.

I claim as my invention:

1. A skirt blocking device comprising opposed side and end bars defining a generally quadrilateral fiat frame adapted to have a skirt stretched thereon, means for selectively varying the dimensions of the frame to accommodate skirts of different outline dimensions, elongated flexible members positioned on the outer edges of said side bars and adapted to be bowed outwardly in the plane of the frame to conform with the hip fullness of a skirt tobe blocked, and. means including an adjustable connection between at least one end portion of each of said fleznble members and the adjacent side bar for varying the outward bowing of said flexible members.

2. A skirt blocking device comprising elongated side, end and strut members connected adjacent one of their ends for independent swinging movement into and out of substantial parallelism to form a compact collapsed unit, said end member being longitudinally extensible to correspond to the width of a skirt to be blocked, a second side member having one end pivotally connected to the other end of said end member and swingable into substantial parallelism with respect to said unit, the other end of said strut member being adjustably connected to said second side member at a point spaced from the pivot end thereof whereby to join said end, strut, and second side members into a rigid triangular frame, extensions rigidly projecting from the other ends of said side members, and a longitudinally extensible end member connecting the remote ends of said extensions to unite all of said members and said extensions into a rigid trapezoidal frame.

3. A collapsible skirt blocking frame comprising an end bar, elongated extensible side bars pivoted on the opposite ends of said end bar and adapted to be swung substantially into parallelism therewith to form a compact bundle having a length which is only a fraction of the maximum length of said extensible side bars, a pair of members one pivotally connected to one of said side bars at a point spaced from said end bar, the other member being pivoted on said frame near the junction between said end bar and the other side bar, means for detachably and adjustably securing adjacent portions of said members together to form a strut of selected length for maintaining said bars in a desired angular relation conforming to the flare of the skirt to be stretched thereon, and a second end bar adapted to be detachably secured to the free ends of said conform with the hip fullness of a skirt to be' blocked, and means associated with each flexible member for selectively varying the length thereof relative to the spacing of its points of attachment to the associated side member and thereby change the curvature of the member substantially throughout its length.

CLARA M. CLEOPHLAS. 

